Tool Comparison

PagerDuty vs Uptime Kuma

Which Monitoring Tool is Better for You?

A detailed comparison to help you choose the right uptime monitoring solution

Quick Comparison

Feature PagerDuty Uptime Kuma PerkyDash
Starting Price $21/user/mo Free (self-hosted) $9/mo
Free Tier 5 users Unlimited (self-hosted) 5 monitors
Uptime Monitoring
Status Pages
SSL Monitoring
API Monitoring
Incident Management
Slack Integration
Multi-Region Checks
Check Interval N/A 20 sec 1 min

What is PagerDuty?

Industry-leading incident management platform with on-call scheduling, escalation policies, and status pages. PagerDuty focuses on incident response rather than monitoring.

PagerDuty Pros

  • Best-in-class incident management
  • Sophisticated on-call scheduling
  • Excellent integrations ecosystem
  • Automation and workflows

PagerDuty Cons

  • Not a monitoring tool (requires separate monitoring)
  • Expensive per-user pricing model
  • Can be complex to configure
  • Overkill for small teams

Best for: Larger teams needing sophisticated incident management (pair with a monitoring tool)

What is Uptime Kuma?

Self-hosted, open-source monitoring tool with a fancy UI. Uptime Kuma is free to use but requires you to host and maintain it yourself.

Uptime Kuma Pros

  • Completely free and open-source
  • Unlimited monitors
  • Beautiful, modern UI
  • Full control over your data

Uptime Kuma Cons

  • Requires self-hosting and maintenance
  • Single-location monitoring only
  • No team features
  • You're responsible for uptime of the monitor itself

Best for: Developers who want free monitoring and are comfortable with self-hosting

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Pricing

PagerDuty

Starts at $21/user/mo. Free tier includes 5 users.

Uptime Kuma

Starts at Free (self-hosted). Free tier includes Unlimited (self-hosted).

Monitoring Capabilities

PagerDuty

  • Uptime Monitoring
  • SSL Monitoring
  • API Monitoring
  • Real User Monitoring

Uptime Kuma

  • Uptime Monitoring
  • SSL Monitoring
  • API Monitoring
  • Real User Monitoring

Alerting & Notifications

PagerDuty

  • Email Alerts
  • SMS Alerts
  • Slack Integration
  • Webhooks

Uptime Kuma

  • Email Alerts
  • SMS Alerts
  • Slack Integration
  • Webhooks

When to Choose Each Tool

Choose PagerDuty if you:

  • Need a free tier (5 users)
  • Need built-in incident management
  • Need status pages included
  • Already have monitoring and need incident/status tools
Visit PagerDuty

Choose Uptime Kuma if you:

  • Need a free tier (Unlimited (self-hosted))
  • Need status pages included
  • Want to self-host your monitoring
  • Need unlimited monitors without monthly cost
Visit Uptime Kuma
Alternative Option

Consider PerkyDash

Looking for a simpler, more affordable alternative?

PerkyDash combines uptime monitoring and status pages in one simple, affordable tool. Built for indie makers and small teams who want powerful monitoring without enterprise complexity.

Monitoring + Status Pages
Starting at $9/month
Free tier with 5 monitors
1-minute check intervals
Multi-region monitoring
Setup in under 2 minutes

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, PagerDuty or Uptime Kuma?

It depends on your specific needs. PagerDuty is best for Larger teams needing sophisticated incident management (pair with a monitoring tool). Uptime Kuma is best for Developers who want free monitoring and are comfortable with self-hosting. Consider your budget, team size, and required features when making your decision.

What's the pricing difference between PagerDuty and Uptime Kuma?

PagerDuty starts at $21/user/mo with a free tier offering 5 users. Uptime Kuma starts at Free (self-hosted) with a free tier offering Unlimited (self-hosted). Both offer different feature sets at their price points.

Is there a better alternative to PagerDuty and Uptime Kuma?

PerkyDash offers a compelling alternative with monitoring and status pages in one tool, starting at $9/month with a free tier available. It's designed for indie makers and small teams who want simplicity without sacrificing features.

Can I migrate from PagerDuty to Uptime Kuma?

Yes, most monitoring tools allow you to export your monitors or recreate them on a new platform. The migration process typically involves setting up new monitors on the target platform and configuring your alert preferences.

Do PagerDuty and Uptime Kuma offer free trials?

PagerDuty offers a free tier with 5 users. Uptime Kuma offers a free tier with Unlimited (self-hosted). We recommend trying both to see which fits your workflow better.

Still not sure which to choose?

Try PerkyDash free and see if it meets your needs. No credit card required.